Can-opener



(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

- A. G. CHALOUPKA.

v CAN OPENER.

No. 544,058. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

21 ATTORNEY,

w n d C Z WM m m 1 w k v WITNESSES.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/ A. G. CHALOUPKA. CAN OPENER. No. 544,058. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

ll il lllil lll lllg In W mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST G. CHALOUPKA, OF CHARLEVOIX, MICHIGAN.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,058, dated August 6, 1895.

' Application filed March 16,1895. Serial No. 541,977. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST G. CHALOUPKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlevoix, in the county of Oharlevoix and State of Michigan, have invented certainnew has for its object to provide a simple and improved device of this class which will be especially adapted for carrying in the pocket, and in which the operating parts or points are adapted to be folded into closed position.

It is also the object of my invention to provide a can-opener of this class which will possess advantages in the point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, convenience, adaptability, effectiveness, and general efiiciency, and which will be adapted for use upon either round, square, or other forms of cans.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved can-opener in the closed position in which it is adapted to be carried in the pocket. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same in the closed position shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 1 1 and 2 2, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts in open or operative position. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 6, and looking rearwardly. Fig. 8 is a detail front end view. Fig. 9 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4. 4, Fig. 6, and looking rearwardly.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

The device is preferably constructed in its entirety of metal; but it may be formed of any suitable or adapted material.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the device, which forms the handle in operation. The body is provided with a central longitudinal slot or opening a, extending to the front end, and this slotted construction may be formed by two corresponding side plates suitably connected together, as herein shown. The top and bottom edges of the slotted body portion are preferably flat and straight, as shown at a and a respectively.

Within the slot at is adapted to slide a plate B, having a projecting threaded top end 1), upon which works a thumb-nut 0, bearing against the top. edge a of the slotted body and adapted to bind the plate B in the position to which it is adjusted. Upon the projecting lower end b of the sliding plate B is pivotally mounted a knife or cutter D, comprising a bifurcated body portion d, having a straight end or edge d adapted to bear against the bottom edge a of the slotted body when the knife is in open operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, and from said bifurcated body projects the knife or cutter. proper (1 preferably having a double-curved cutting edge d d and a concave inner face (1 At said inner face the member D is preferably flat, as shown at (P, this flat face 01 being adapted to rest against the flat bottom edge a of the slotted body when the member D is folded up on its pivot into closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

E designates a point ora prod, the office of which is to punch or press a hole through the top of the can so that the prod acts as a pivot in the operation of the device, the cutter operating laterally and being adjusted a suitable distance from said central pivot with relation to the diameter of the can. The prod E embodies a body portion e, which is pivotally mounted upon pin F in the open end of the slot a. The pivotal bearing eye or opening e of the member E is elongated to permit longitudinal movement of said member in adjusting it into operative or closed position. From the front endof the body 6 projects the point or prod proper 6 which is approximately of right-angular contour. At the front end of the body e are provided laterallyprojecting studs or pins e a which enter recesses or notches a in the front edge of the body A, whereby the prod is retained in operative position, as shown in Fig. 5. A flat spring-plate G is secured to the top of the body A at the front and is curved over the front of the body A, as shown at g, so that its end engages the front edge of the body portion of the member E, the spring-plate thus serving to retain the latter against accidental displacement while in operative position. The front edge of the body 6 is preferably beveled, as shown at e, at its point of contact with the flat spring to facilitate the rawing of the member E forward against the tension of the spring when it is desired to fold the former back into the closed position shown in Fig. 1. In thus drawing the memberE forward its studs 42 e are disengaged from the recesses a a, so that the member E may be turned rearwardly on its pivot to the closed position illustrated, in which the point or prod proper e will be housed within the slot (1. By bringing the sliding member D, when the knife or cutter d is folded in closed position,

up against the member E, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the knife or cutter (1 comes under the point or prod e and supports the same in position in the slot at, thus preventing accidental dropping down of the point when the device is carried in the pocket.

The body A is preferably provided with an enlargement or extension 0. on its under side and at the pivotal connection of the member E, which extension forms a rest for the end of the device when in operation, and against the rear edge of which extension the lateral studs e e abut when the member E is in closed position. The bottom edge a of the body A is preferably inclined or beveled upwardly toward the extension 0, and adjacent thereto, as shown at a to better adapt it for the close housing of the point of the cutter 01 F designates a corkscrew, which may be pivotally and spring mounted within the rear portion of the slot a and is adapted to be normally housed therein, but may be withdrawn from the slot for use. This corkscrew isnot an essential feature of my device, but is simply an auxiliary element which maybe used or not, as desired.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

The device is adapted to be securely closed for convenient and safe carriage in the pocket and may be readily opened and effectively used. It is also capable of ready adjustment to adapt it for convenient use upon various sizes or shapes of cans.

I claim as my invention 1. A device of the class described, comprisinga slotted body carrying an adjustable slide or plate upon the end of which is pivotally mounted a knife or cutter, the latter being adapted to be secured in either operative or closed position by adjustment of the slide, substantially as set forth, a point or prod pivotally mounted at the end of said slotted body and adapted to be folded rearwardly upon its pivot and inclosed within the slot, and means for securing the point or prod in open operative position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device of the class described, compris ing a longitudinally slotted body, a plate or slide mounted within said slot and carrying the set nut, a knife or cutter pivotally carried upon the end of said slide and embodying a body portion and a cutter projecting therefrom, said knife or cutter being adapted to be secured in operative or closed position by adjustment of the slide and set nut, substantially as set forth, a point or prod having an elongated bearing and pivotally mounted. at the end of said slot, the point or prod being provided with lateral studs or pins adapted to engage recesses'ornotchesin the front edge of the slotted body, and a spring bearing upon said point or body and adapted to retain the studs in such engagement, the prod being adapted to be moved upon its elongated heat" ing from engagement with the spring and turned rearwardly upon its pivot for inclosure Within the slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein described device of the class described, comprising the longitudinally slotted body, the slide or plate mounted within said slot, the set nut, the knife or cutter pivotally mounted upon said slide and embodying the body portion having an abutting end and the knife or cutter proper, the point or prod embodying the body portion having the elongated opening by which it is pivotally mounted in the slotted body and provided with the lateral studs or pins adapted to engage the recesses or notches in the front edge of the slotted body portion, the latter being provided with a flat spring plate bearing against the edge of the body portion of the point or prod and with the extension at the under side of its front end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An improved can opener of the class described, embodying a pivotal bearing point or fulcrum and having a slotted body, and a plate or slide adjustable within said slot and carrying at its end a pivotally mounted knife or cutter embodying an abutting end or edge adapted to bear against the under edge of the body and adapted to be turnedinto closed position against the edge of the body, said knife or cutter being secured in either operat-ive or closed position by the adjustment of the slide, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A can opener of the class described, embodying a pivotal point or fulcrum atone end and provided with a longitudinally slotted body, a plate or slide mounted within said slot, a set nut, and a knife or cutter pivot-ally mounted upon and carried by the end of said slide which projects from the slot and embodying a body portion having an abutting end or edge adapted to bear against the bottom edge of the slotted body and a projecting knife or cutter proper, the knife or cutter being adapted to be secured in either open position or folded in closed position against the edge of the body by adjustment of the carrying slide and set nut, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6; A device of the class described, com prising a slotted body, a point or prod pivotally mounted within said slotted body upon an elongated bearing and provided with lateral studs or pins adapted to engage recesses or notches in the edge of said body, and a spring device for holding said studs into such engagement, the point or prod being adapted to be turned upon its pivot into open operative position or into closed position Within the slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a slotted body, a point or prod pivotally mounted at the front end of said slot and em bodying a body portion having an elongated bearing and lateral studs or pins adapted to engage recesses or notches in, the front edge of said slotted body and a projecting angular point or prod proper, and a flat spring plate secured to the slotted body and bearing against the front edge of the body of the point or prod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An improved can opener of the class described, having at one end a pivotally mounted or hinged point or prod adapted to be turned device, and a sliding cutter adapted to be folded into closed position against the edge i of the body, the relative arrangement being such that the folded or closed cutter forms a support for the point or prod when the latter is in closed position within the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. An improved can opener of the class described, having a point or prod pivotally mounted or hinged at oneend and adapted to be folded or turned into closed position within the body of the device, and means for retaining the point or prod in open operative position, and a longitudinally adjustable slide or plate carrying a knife or cutter pivoted upon the projecting end of the slide and adapted to be secured in open operative po-, sition against the edge of the body or turned or folded into closed position against saidedge of the body of the device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses Witnesses:

WM. RANGER, GUY GREEN. 

